The Huntington Town board has set up a trust and agency account to receive $300,000 from AvalonBay Communities to create and upgrade traffic controls in preparation for the 379-unit complex in Huntington Station.

A new traffic signal will be installed at Park Avenue and East Fifth Street and at the access driveway to the Telephonics company on Park Avenue. The development, a mix of rentals...

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The Huntington Town board has set up a trust and agency account to receive $300,000 from AvalonBay Communities to create and upgrade traffic controls in preparation for the 379-unit complex in Huntington Station.

A new traffic signal will be installed at Park Avenue and East Fifth Street and at the access driveway to the Telephonics company on Park Avenue. The development, a mix of rentals and for-sale units, is under construction on a 26.6-acre site on East Fifth Street, a half-mile east of the Long Island Rail Road stop in Huntington Station.

The money also will fund upgrades at the Park Avenue and Broadway intersection and at the Park Avenue and Dunlop Road intersection, both of which are just north of East Fifth Street. Those upgrades include coordinating them with the new signal at East Fifth Street and Telephonics.

"A trust account ensures that that money gets deposited into that account for that purpose only," Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said. "It's money AvalonBay had to put in to create and maintain lights and it's designated for that purpose."

The town will also apply to the LIRR for an entry permit and a pre-emption agreement to establish the signals and coordinate the signals to the traffic on the tracks.

In an email, Matt Whalen, AvalonBay Communities senior vice president for development, said he is pleased with progress at the Huntington Station site. "We're moving along on schedule and expect to have our first apartments ready for occupancy in early 2014."

The next town board meeting is 7 p.m. on Aug. 13 at town hall, 100 Main St.